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3 Sheets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

G. F. MEYER.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING 00m).

Patented Nov. 29,1881. A

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Nov. 29,1881.

G. P. MEYER.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING 00111).

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G. P. MEYER.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING 001 1).

Patented Nov. 29, 1881.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. MEYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ETIENNE GILLET, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,158, dated November 29, 1881. ApplicationfiledJnne25, 1881. (NomodeL) of which the following is a full, true, and ex-' act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved process for producing low degrees of temperature by the volatilization of a liquid and the subsequent expansion of the volatilized vapor, and

is especially applicable to the method of producing cold by the use of what is known as binary liquids, such as the glycero-ammoniacal solution. I11 the patent granted to A. J. Rossi and L. F. Beckwith on the 18th of January, 1881, is shown an apparatus for the use of this binary compound in the production of low degrees of temperature, in which the compression-pump acts solely upon the ammoniacal vapor, the glycerine absorbent not passing through the compression-pump, but being alternately enriched and impoverished by the addition to it or the abstraction from it of the ammoniacal vapor in independent refrigerators. By my process I allow the glycerine and ammonia to pass through the entire operation in conjunction or in the presence of each other, and I find many benefits arising from this process, especially the thorough lubrication of the compression-pump and the avoidance of all clearances in such pump, and also increased tightness about the pump-connections by reason of the lubricating and packing effect of the glycerine. My apparatus likewise is capable of a continuous operation, and does not require the use of alternate refrigerators, as does the Rossi and Beckwith apparatus previously referred to.

My apparatus will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents an elevation, partly in section,of my apparatus as combined for work; Fig. 2, a horizontal section through my refrig erator and absorber; Fig. 3, a perspective view of'my distributer, and Fig. 4 a view of an apparatus for reducing the temperature of the binary compound. on its passage to the refrig- 50 orator.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in all the drawings.

In my drawings, A represents the refrigerator, in which coils of pipe F are shown, wherein the cold produced is utilized in the refrigeration of a non-congealable liquid which may be used to contain the Water-vessels to be frozen, or the pipes might be used for cooling air or for any other equivalent purpose. A circulator, E, is shown arranged in the usual way, and the currents of the brine produced by it are indicated by the arrows.

B represents what 1 have termed an absorber, the function of which will be presently explained. 6 5

1? represents a compression and aspiration pump for receiving and expelling the binary liquid and vapor.

'G represents an apparatus for refrigerating the binary liquid on its passage from the absorber to the refrigerator, which 1 term the economizer. The absorber B is connected with the refrigerator Abya pipe, 0, connected with the economizer G by the branch pipes at b.

c d represent screw-valves on the pipe 0. By means of the valve d the supply of liquid to the refrigerator can be accurately determined.

The pipe 0 communicates with the distribu' ter D, which consists of a tubular or similar vessel havin g a series of holes accurately bored and inline for the reception of the series of pipes F, through which the binary compound passes. The object of this distributer is to distribute equally the binary liquidinto the pipes F; and for the purpose of insuring this result I have made it vertically adjustable by set-screws and rods 9, or other suitable means, and I have also attached to it a spirit-level, h, in order to determine when the distributer has been adjusted 0 to ahorizontal position. This spirit-levelis not shown in Fig. 1, but should be placed, above the refrigerator, so as to be easily observable.

A returning series of pipes, F, connects with the distributer D, and through these pipes 5 the liquid flowsnto the receiving-head H, from whence it passes by the pipe J controlled by v the valve 0, to the outside chamber of the economizer G. This economizer contains awormcoil, connected by pipes a and b to pipe O,

, to the outside vessel of the absorber B, and

thencebypipeCagaintotherefrigerator. This absorber is in general form like a condenser, and a current of cold water is allowed to enter the top and flow down through the chill-- ing-pipes S, escaping by the pipe R. The binary liquid passing upward is thereforebrought in contact with these pipes in its upward trav crse.

' Adistributing-plate,N, is employed to equably distribute the glycerine and ammonia-gas throughout the absorber B. The absorber is provided with glass dead-eyes W, for observing the condition of the contained liquid. The pipes should be so arranged as to allow of an unobstructed view across the apparatus.

I may also employ an air-chamber connected with the pipe L for equalizing the pulsations of the compression-pump P.

The operation of my apparatus can now be understood. The apparatus is charged with a suitable quantity of glycerine and ammonia through a suitable opening in the pipe 0, and the pump P is put in operation. The glyceroammoniacal liquid leaves the absorber B as a binary liquid, as will presently be explained. It passes thence through the pipe 0, through the refrigerating-coils F by means of the distributer D. By means ofthe valve d the supply of the binary liquid is controlled, 'so as to allow a small portion to flow down each of the refrigerating-coils, but not sufficient to fill these pipes. Owing to the aspiration of the pump, the ammonia leaves the binary liquid in these refrigerating-pipes and passes into the condition of vapor, and in this transition absorbs a large amount of heat from the pipes and surrounding brine, so that the compound arrives at the collector H as a free vapor and an impoverished glycerine. Thenceitpasses through the economizerGrto the pump 1?. In this pump the pressure is applied to the compound and a partial absorption of the ammonia takes place, the glycerine serving to lubricate the pump, and also to partially or totally fill the clearances. Thence the partly-enriched glycerine and free ammonia vapor pass into the bottom of the absorber B through the distributer-plates N. The vapor of ammonia passes upward through the glycerine in the absorber B in bubbles, and in its passage upward is absorbed by the glycerine, the absorption increasing from the bottom to the top of this vessel by the action of the cold water flowing downward through the pipes S, the coldest water being at the top of the absorber, and the warmest at the bottom. The amount of absorption can be determined by the dead-eyes W, previously referred to. The'level of the enriched glycerine is maintained in the absorber B above the pipe 0.

In order to thoroughly refrigerate the enriched glycerine on its passage to the refrigerator, and also to raise the temperature of the impoverished glycerine passing from the refrigerator, the enriched glycerine is allowed to flow through the economizer G, previously referred to, whereby its temperature is reduced before it passes to therefrigerator, at the same time raising the temperature of the escaping impoverished glycerine. In order to still fur ther economize in the interchange of heat, I

propose. to introduce in the pipe L an apparatus similar to the absorber B, allowing themriched glycerine and ammonia to pass through the outer casing of this vessel, while the enriched glycerine which is delivered from the upper part of the absorber can pass downward through the upwardly-movin g glycerine in the outer vessel, escaping at the bottom, and so passing onward by the pipe 0 to the refrigerating-coils F. In this way a still further economy can be produced.

I .am aware that aqueous solutions of volatile matter have been circulated through chambers to be refrigerated, the volatile matter being combined with, and then separated at times from, the liquid, and the two conducted through difi'erent passages. This I do not claim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The process of producing low temperature by the use of a binary compound composed of a non-volatile liquid and aliquefiable gas, which consists in compressing the liquid and gas together in a pump, in cooling the same by'subjecting them together to the action of a refrigerant, and in producing the cold by allowing the escape of the gas from the liquid, and its expansion in a suitable refrigeratingapparatus,theliquid and gasgoing in the presence of each other throughout the entire process, substantially as described.

2. As an improvement in the process of producing cold artificially by the compression and expansion of a gas, or of a liquid and gas together, the process of cooling the compressed gas, or compressed liquid and gas, before the expansion of the gas by subjecting it to the cooling influence of the gas, or liquid and gas, after it has performed its work in the refrigerating apparatus and is returning to be condensed, substantially as described.

3. As an improvement in the process of producing artificial refrigeration by binary compounds, the process of causing the absorption of the gas into the liquid by delivering the gas into the bottom of a vessel containing the liquid absorbent, which liquid absorbent is artificially refrigerated by a series of pipes or equivalent mechanism, so that the gas on its passage upward through the refrigerated liquid will be gradually absorbed by said liquid, substantially as described.

4. As an improvement in the process of pro ducing artificial refrigeration by binary com pounds, the process of causing the absorption of the gas into the'liquid by delivering the gas into the bottom of a vessel containing the liquid absorbent, which liquid absorbent is artificially refrigerated by a series of pipes or equivalent mechanism, so that the gas on its passage upward through the refrigerated liquid will be gradually absorbed by said liquid, the gas delivered into the bottom of the vessel containing the liquid being equably distributed throughout the liquid by being delivered to it at numerous points, substantially as described.

5. In a refrigerator for refrigerating by cold pipes, through which pipes a cold liquid, or cold liquid and gas, is allowed to flow, the combination of a series of coils conveying such liquid with a single adjustable distributer, whereby the liquid may be equably distributed throughout the chilling-pipes, substantially as described.

6. In a refrigerator for producing cold by the compression, expansion, and refrigeration of a binary compound, the absorber B, into the bottom of which the liquid and gas are delivered together, thereby allowing the gas to rise through the liquid, the said absorber being provided with a series of chilling-tubes cooled by the water flowing downward through them, so that the liquid and gas and the water move past each other in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. The combination, in an artificial refrigerating apparatus, of a compression-pump, an apparatus for cooling the compressed gas,or liquid and gas, a refrigerator for utilizing the cqld produced, and an apparatus for bringing the compressed gas, or liquid and gas, in contact with the gas, or liquid and gas, escaping from the refrigerating apparatus on its return to the apparatus where it is cooled, substantially as described.

8. The absorber B, provided with a distributing-plate, N, for the purpose of equalizing the upward flow of the gas through the liquid contained in the absorber, substantially as de- 45 scribed.

9. The absorber B, provided with a series of observation-holes, W W, located opposite each other, allowing a View through the contained liquid, substantially as described.

GEO. F. MEYER.

Witnesses:

Gno. H. EVANS, WM. A. PoLLocK. 

